Lenawee Humane Society executive director retiring after more than 16 years

“It has been a decision that has been a long time coming, not an easy one, because I love my job,” said Tancredi, who has been executive director of the organization for 161⁄2 years.

Her husband, Michael, retired 11 years ago and they want to spend more time together, Tancredi said. She said they would be “looking for warm weather,” at least in winter.

Tancredi, who was an office manager for the Humane Society for two months before becoming executive director, said the job offered her something new.

“I was a person who never had pets, so this was an interesting, new experience and one I became passionate about,” Tancredi said.

The best part of her job is finding homes for the animals, Tancredi said.

“To be able to bring them back to health and find someone who’s going to take care of them, that’s got to be the best part,” she said.

In the past 10 years, 9,000 to 10,000 animals have passed through the shelter, Tancredi said.

Because the Lenawee Humane Society is a no-kill organization, there are always more animals in need of shelter, Tancredi said.

The most difficult part of her job is finding money to keep the organization going, she said.

Tancredi oversees 11 staff members. On any day, there may be from one to a dozen volunteers at the Humane Society’s building at 705 W. Beecher St., she said.

Martin Nichols, president of the Humane Society’s board of directors, said the board had formed a subcommittee that includes shelter staff, community members and board members to search for a new executive director.

The board has received some applications and still is expanding its search, he said. A selection will be made when the board finds the “right person,” Nichols said.

Compassion for the animals and patience in dealing with financial issues are the most important qualities an executive director of the organization needs, Tancredi said.

Tancredi said she came to Adrian 18 years ago because of her husband’s job with General Motors Corp. She had a managerial job in Syracuse, N.Y., prior to coming to Michigan, she said.